Jabari Smith Jr.
A fluid and explosive forward whose smooth three-point stroke and defensive versatility made him a top NBA draft pick straight out of Auburn.
Born 2003 (age 23)·American basketball player·Birthday: May 13·Generation Z
Biography
Jabari Smith Jr. entered the basketball world as a coveted prospect, the son of a former NBA player, and carved his own path at Auburn University. His single college season was a showcase of modern basketball ideals: a near-seven-footer who could drain shots from deep, switch defensively, and handle the ball with a guard's grace. This package made him a consensus top-three selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, landing him with the Houston Rockets as a cornerstone of their ambitious rebuild. His rookie years were a study in adaptation, facing the physical rigors of the professional game while flashes of his scoring talent and intelligent defense hinted at the star potential that defines his trajectory.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Jabari was born in 2003, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jabari Was Born
The biggest hits of 2003
#1 Movie
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Best Picture
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
#1 TV Show
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Jabari's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2003Born
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2008Started school
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2016Became a teenager
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Could drive
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2021Could vote
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2024Turned 21
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 23 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 3rd overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2022 NBA Draft.
- Earned SEC Freshman of the Year and First-team All-SEC honors in his lone season at Auburn.
- Was a finalist for the Karl Malone Award, given to the nation's top power forward, in 2022.
- Helped lead Auburn to an SEC regular-season championship in 2022.
Did You Know?
His father, Jabari Smith Sr., played parts of four seasons in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings and other teams.
He was a McDonald's All-American in high school and played in the same game against Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero.
He wears jersey number 10 for the Rockets, the same number his father wore in college at LSU.
“I want to be the best two-way player, to affect the game on both ends.”
